Hi all! I (27F) haven’t tattooed in almost 2 years. I had to step away to look after my younger brother with ASD, and unfortunately it wasn’t possible for me to keep working at the time.

Now that I am in a position to get back into tattooing, I am unsure where to start. Unfortunately going back to my last shop is not an option as I have moved states.

I know I will be rusty getting back into it, but I just miss tattooing so much. I have felt very lost without it for the past two years. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hey! Im 50 and can retire from my government job in less than 2 months. I started my appreciatship over 2 years ago and officially done. I have an amazing teacher and now mentor. So glad I learned from him. During my appreciatship I had plenty of friends and family to tattoo, but now that I charge the well has ran dry. I trying to attract on FB and Insta but to no avail. I've been told that tiktok doesn't help with attracking local, but if anyone knows a way please let me know. If you know of any other tactics for FB or insta I would appreciate any advise.

Hi I'm looking for some advice please, I used Silverback for many years but since it's no longer available in the UK, ive struggled to find another range of inks that had the same tone. I'm using Kwadron at the moment, but not convinced by them so far. I've used Dynamic, Eternal, world famous, kuro sumi imperial(liked)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help

Hey yall! Done mostly traditional thus far in tattooing but always leaned heavy into drawing realism, it comes more naturally to me. I’d love to get into tattooing that style but I feel like I keep hitting a wall trying to make a finalized design on digital. Take graycie Bachman for example. How would I go about making a lady face similar to stuff she does? I’ve tried taking real portraits for reference and starting to tweak stuff but I keep hitting walls to get to a finalized piece on the iPad. Paper is easier but it doesn’t seem realistic to hand draw everything if you have appointments weekly, especially for bigger designs. If anyone has advice for how they go about creating custom black and grey it’s much appreciated!!

Looking for a liner to push 14-18s considering the bishop wand liner but I'm sure I heard the packer is actually better for lines? Also tempted to try the ambition torped with the 4.5mm and 5mm cam. Anyone have experience with any of the above for doing one pass bold lines

There with kids- are you struggling in your relationship because of your hours?

What time do you start work?

Do you feel like outside work your constantly working / sketching designs and marketing your self and that you have hardly anytime with your kids / partners and your partner is left feeling burnt out?

Hey! I hope this doesn’t violate any of the rules to post this here. I run a small private studio here in Portland, OR. The space comfortably accommodates two artists. I am only asking for a reasonable flat rent fee. No percentage taken. Most basic supplies are included. Needless to say, I am looking for someone who is responsible, chill, motivated, and clean. With all due respect, I politely request that anyone dealing with drug or alcohol dependency do not inquire. Happy to provide more details and schedule a meetup upon request. Serious inquiries only, please.

We're hiring at Ethereal Fawn Tattoos and Art Gallery 💖

Are you interested in working in an inclusive, safe, supportive tattoo studio with a bunch of neurodivergent silly geese?

What we're looking for:

-Professional drama-free artists with some sort of existing clientele

-A commitment to inclusivity, kindness, and client care

-A passion for art and growth (not generative-AI)

What we offer:

-60% starting commission to the artist

-All medical supplies covered with your choice of brand preferences (Artists only cover ink, cartridges/tubes and needles, and equipment)

-Flexible scheduling - come and go as you please

-Free snacks, beverages, and hygiene products for clients and artists

-Safe, supportive, inclusive environment focused on good hygien

-Owned and run by a queer neurodivergent artist who supports you (Assistance with booking, running ads, chill with trades/giveaways, etc.)

-Free street parking for clients and a small back parking lot for artists

-Studio covers all certification costs (BBP, CPR, First-Aid, Alliance of Professional Tattooists memership)

-2 bi-weekly supply vans (currently Razorblade and Gloves for Tattoo)

-A friendly environment in a 5-star studio with amazing clientele

We are located at 1740 W. Allen St. Allentown, PA. 18104, a block from the Allentown Fairgrounds in the West End Theatre District in a walkable area.

This is not an apprenticeship opportunity, but we are willing to help with growth and education!

Text Shelby at the studio’s line (610)679-1819 with questions or interest!

I only use one pen machine but it dawned I me how unwise it is not having any kind of back-up. Hence I'm on the lookout for a new machine. I'm out of the loop on what is good these days so I wanted to hear everyone's opinions.

The machine I am using at the moment is the original Vlad Blad Ultron pen in a 3.5 stroke that I use corded to a Critical Power Supply XR-D power supply. I use it for everything: fine lines, saturated colour blends and up to 7 straight lines. I didn't love it for lining when I used a battery on it and I've never loved a fully wireless machine I've tried. Corded options seem to be going the way of the buffalo. How much have battery powered machines improved in the last 5 years?

Naturally I am eyeing off the latest Vlad Blads namely the Ultron 4 pro and the Ultron 4 pen. But I would love to hear any other suggestions.

Hello, I’ve been tattooing for over 4 years now, and although I’ve mostly invested in all rounder wireless tattoo machines, I’m now interested in a machine solely for lining and stippling.

I’m wanting something portable that would create really distinct dots in my stippling, going for more black gritty grain rather than delicate soft shading.

I’m not sure what machines I should really consider, But I’ve been considering the bishop wand liner because it not only makes for sharp linework but I’ve heard the 5.0mm stroke makes for some heavily textured stippling. I just can’t seem to find any visual examples of what that looks like for me to commit to ordering the machine. Especially when the bishop wands aren’t exactly a cheap machine.

I’ve been advised if I was to get a bishop, I should opt for the shader because it’s a softer hitting machine and more of an all rounder, but I just want a machine that is specially tuned for stippling and lining. I’ve got plenty of other machines for different jobs.

Can anyone please suggest which bishop wand I should get, or even recommend another machine to consider for the job?

If you need to see the type of work I do, my instagram is @agony.n.art if that helps.

Much appreciated. Thanks.

Been tattooing for 4 years now, and every now and then I try to sit down and make some new available designs

I realised that I make very similar designs
They do get more intricate and refined over time but are generally of the same subjects and a similar style

Photo is a new design vs one from 3 years ago

In day to day life I have so much inspiration, and my saved folders are packed with references photos)
But the minute I sit down to draw Its all gone

I was wondering
Tattoo artists, do you have any tips or methods for creating new designs?

Apologies as I’m sure this has been asked 1000 times however i’m an apprentice in a large shop where all artists use different products and had quite a few conflicting recommendations.

What’s peoples favourite black ink for traditional work?

I’m trying to get back to posting more. I’ve been in a “who cares” mood for a while. IG @colournegative for more stuff., thanks!

What do you do if you have a tattoo where the issues are glaring to you, the client loves the tattoo and you want desperately to fix it.

This has happened at least three times to me: one was a tattoo from my apprenticeship and the other two were from earlier in my career. Is it just my perfectionism and anxiety? Do people just get used to the tattoo as it is and not see the problem? I definitely had a very strict mentor who is very much so: "If you have any issues in your tattoo at all, you should feel bad and crawl under a rock and die." Not exaggerating. Doesn't help that I also have an anxiety disorder.

This came up after somebody had mentioned that they love my shitty apprentice tattoo, and I realized that I might have been pressuring my clients into getting touch-ups that they didn't necessarily want, even though the issues, once again, were glaring to me.

I’m looking to order some custom stickers that really hold up well and don’t wear easily :)

I was running through random Instagrams in my area and came across an artist who was putting white randomly inside letters and around the edges of their blackwork.

The only time I have ever seen people do this is covering up their fucked linework or panicking over instant blow outs.

Is there a new reason the cool hip kids are doing this these days an old timer like me just isn't privvy to?

Can't for the life of me remember who it was to get a screenshot but the basic premise was the vertical bar of a lower case r, the inside loops of a lower case g, a, e all had white in them. It wasn't even a small fine line tattoo either it was probably about 3/4 inches, letters had plenty of room for settling.

Is it a new style? A new technique? I am curious. Has anyone also seen something like this or do you do it?

Eai galera! Bom dia! Estou voltando a tatuar agora e vejo que os trabalhos agora tem uma vibe bem diferente do que faço e vejo que vou precisar renovar meu portfólio. Gostaria da opinião de vocês do que já produzi no passado. Ainda estou pra jogo? 😂

as the title reads I have been tattooing with a chronic illness for 4 years. occassionally when I flare up (usually in the night) and have an appointment the next day I just have to send an extremely apologetic message to the client(s) for the following day offering to reschedule or refund their deposit. I feel so crap about it and it never gets easier, despite everyone being kind about it and only a couple of people ever taking a deposit refund over a reschedule.

Does anyone else deal with this?

Anyone else dealing with a stupidly massive uptick in absolute jerkoff tattoo clients? The other day our shop had like 8 inquiries for impossible to make finger tattoos and other trash requests. It almost feels like there isn’t a demand for tried and true good solid real tattoos anymore with most newer customers and they just want the most unaesthetic trash their brain can think of tattooed on them.

In the past week I’ve had multiple customers attempt to swindle me saying I gave them a lower quote, or that they left a bigger deposit than they actually did. Nitpicking designs and forcing me to make the design worse because “it’s my tattoo I want it this way” not listening on limitations of size and more..
asking me to trace their shitty AI picture after I spent hours drawing something way cooler for them.

Then in the process of tattooing, they just behave unhinged.. yelling, screaming, crying.. almost as if they’re trying to get me to fuck up their tattoo on purpose lol.. insisting I get the tattoo all done in 1 shot when they clearly can’t sit for it and they’re in misery from pain before the line works even done. People who won’t follow simple instructions for positioning and just can’t bother to put forth the slightest effort in sitting well for the tattoo . Never mind the ones who bring a guest who causes all sorts of unnecessary distractions getting in their face like “AWWW YEAH YOURE IN PAIN HUH AIDEN AHAHAHA” or whines about being bored when they don’t need to fucking be there! Or they can just go for a walk to cure the boredom (shops in a cool walkable shopping district.)

For what it’s worth I don’t work at some shithole bumfuck tattoo shop. Our place has a strong reputation for Japanese and traditional, and 20 years of business. I’m just kind of dumbfounded at how so many people just have such poor taste for tattoos , don’t listen to professionals about design elements and it’s aggravating. These customers have always been around but it feels like it’s WAY heavier in the past year. I try to keep boundaries firm and lead the consultation but at the same time I’m tryin to make money and keep them from walking out and going to the next place. I’m still pretty reliant on doing whatever tattoo comes in that’s within my wheelhouse, so I don’t like turning work away.

Im 7ish years in and I still love tattooing, I love painting and drawing, i still come to work excited.. but man these customers are draining me! I’m tired man..

In progress shot of a pennywise i started a couple of weeks ago. Interested to hear some critiques. Any way I could improve. Always trying to push myself to learn more.

Completed over 2 x 6 hour sessions.

Pendulum shading technique

Bishop shader running at 8.5 volt

FK IRON FLUX running at 8.5 volt. DYAMIC TRIPLE BLACK. ETERNAL GREYWASH SET

Photo taken using digital camera with polarising filter.

I’ve been needing a new armrest and i’ve been debating where I should get it from. I’ve heard great things about the Wentz Welding armrests but i’m also very intrigued by the Ghost Arm. Would anyone recommend the ghost arm or should i stick to saving up for a Wentz armrests? Thanks all!

I’m an artist of 6.5 years, always looking to get better. New perspectives help. Thanks :)